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When Irving Oil agreed to become presenting sponsor of the World’s Largest Truck Convoy in support of Special Olympics Nova Scotia, the organizers did a dance of joy.

One of those organizers was Anne Marie Shannon, Manager, Events & Communications for Special Olympics N.S. Anne Marie knows all too well the importance of having a caring company like Irving Oil lend their support to one of her organization’s largest and most important fundraising events of the year.

“For a charitable organization like ours, being able to build a relationship and count on a well-established company like Irving Oil is so important,” she said. “We know how much they care about our athletes, professional drivers and the communities where their employees live and work. We’re grateful for their support which ultimately helps us deliver great programs for our 1,700 athletes across Nova Scotia.”

Irving Oil has a long history of supporting the Special Olympics movement, through support of the World’s Largest Truck Convoy here in Nova Scotia, and in the U.S., where they recently celebrated a 16-year partnership that has helped raised more than $3.3 million for Special Olympics in New England.

Through their valuable support for the World’s Largest Truck Convoy, Special Olympics Nova Scotia hopes to have the biggest and best truck convoy yet! Thank you Irving Oil!

It’s Time 4 Text2Donate – the countdown is on! The World’s Largest Truck Convoy in support of Special Olympics Nova Scotia hits the road (literally!) this Saturday.

This year, we have set up a text2donate initiative for those who want to donate to the convoy but can’t participate in person.

What is “text2donate”?

The Text2Donate campaign is simple to use – text CONVOYNS to 20222 and donate $5 to Special Olympics Nova Scotia.

The RCMP Foundation in Moncton launched a Text2Donate initiative last year and raised $70,000 for a Remembrance Day event, Lest We Forget – all from the palm of people’s hands.

Are you shining your truck? Charging your camera (and maybe your cell phone)? We’re excited to see you this Saturday morning for a ride around Dartmouth to support Special Olympics Nova Scotia and its programs.

Are you going to be in a truck or watching the convoy? Looking forward to seeing you support truckers and the big hearts they have. Check out the convoy’s route, schedule of events, and registered trucks. See you on Saturday!

Written by Megan Winsor
Intern, Special Olympics Nova Scotia

To celebrate the last week of August (and the beginning of convoy month!), we’re going to do something different: Throwback Thursday.

On Thursdays, the convoy team will look back on previous years and others’ experiences at the World’s Largest Truck Convoy for Special Olympics Nova Scotia.

This week, I spoke with Kathy MacLean, an employee at Bestway Pro-Can about her experience with the 2014 convoy.

Kathy wasn’t a driver, but a passenger in one of the company’s trucks.

Bestway Pro-Can has been involved since the first convoy in 2012, registering nine trucks – three a year – to support Special Olympics Nova Scotia.

“The whole thing was really fun and rewarding,” she says. “Seeing it all come together like that – I felt like a part of something big.”

Alex D – the original Ice Road trucker – was in attendance last year, and Kathy remembers his presence as an exciting one.

“Having him there was a big deal,” she emphasizes.

Emboldened by 2014’s success, Kathy and other employees at Bestway Pro-Can are doing something above and beyond for 2015.

The drivers registered in the convoy are individually pledging. Each week, Bestway Pro-Can sells 50/50 tickets and has weekly BBQs where the proceeds will go to the drivers’ pledges.

“Last year we raised around $1500,” Kathy says. “We started it in August last year, though. This year we started over a month earlier in June so we’re hoping for a bigger turnout this year.”

When I ask Kathy about her favourite moments about 2014, one stood out in particular.

“During the convoy, since it’s so big, there were a lot of people who came out when they heard the honking,” she remembers. “Horns were honking, there were people on the side of the road, coming out of their homes and businesses to cheer us on.”

“It was amazing.”

We’re going strong heading into September – only a few spots left to register. Or, if you’d like to donate to those who are collecting pledges, you can do so here.